Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about PaintFromPhoto — the free paint by numbers template generator. Learn about pricing, image privacy, output sizes and color options.
Is PaintFromPhoto free to use?
Yes — PaintFromPhoto is completely free, with no sign-up, watermarks or download limits. Upload a photo and your browser generates a numbered paint by numbers template on the spot.
Is my photo private? Is it uploaded to a server?
Your photo never leaves your device. The whole conversion — color analysis, region detection, numbering and PDF export — runs inside your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is uploaded, stored or seen by us.
How do I turn a photo into a paint by numbers template?
Upload a JPG, PNG or WEBP photo, choose the number of colors (8–48), the canvas size and the detail level, then click Generate. In a few seconds you get a numbered outline, a painted preview and a color legend, ready to export as PNG or print-ready PDF.
How many colors can I use?
Anywhere from 8 to 48 colors. We recommend 16–24 colors for beginners and children, 36 for intermediate painters, and 48 for realistic portraits and advanced projects.
What output and canvas sizes are supported?
A5, A4, A3 and US Letter paper sizes, canvas frame sizes F4 to F50, square canvases and your photo's original aspect ratio. The PDF contains the template at exact millimetre size plus optional tiled A4 sheets for home printing.
What is Color Guide (tinted) mode?
Color Guide mode lightly tints every region with its assigned paint color, so you can see at a glance which color goes where. It is ideal for beginners; experienced painters usually prefer the classic outline-only template.
Which acrylic paints should I buy?
With the Acrylic-matched palette, every color in your legend is snapped to one of 48 common acrylic paint names (Titanium White, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue and so on), so a standard 24- or 48-color acrylic set covers most templates. The legend also shows each color's HEX value if you prefer to mix your own.
What image formats and sizes work best?
JPG, PNG and WEBP files up to 25 MB. Photos are resized to 1600 px on the long edge on your device. Sharp, well-lit photos with a clear subject and a simple background give the best templates.
Can I use PaintFromPhoto on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The generator works in modern mobile browsers (Safari, Chrome, Samsung Internet). For 48-color, high-detail templates a laptop or desktop is faster, but any recent phone can handle standard settings.
How do I print the template?
Click Export PDF. The PDF includes a cover page, the color legend, the template at true size and, optionally, a painted reference page and tiled A4 sheets. Print at 100% scale (turn off "fit to page") so the size is exact, or send the file to a print shop to have it printed on canvas.
Can I edit the template after generating it?
You can change any setting — colors, detail, style, size or crop — and regenerate instantly. Manual editing of individual regions is not supported yet, but you can open the PNG in any image editor.
How is PaintFromPhoto different from buying a custom paint by numbers kit?
Custom kits are printed and shipped with paints included and typically cost US$30–80 and take one to three weeks to arrive. PaintFromPhoto gives you the template instantly and for free; you print it yourself and use any acrylic paints you already own or buy locally.